Date:08/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020804520200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Education system fuelling anxiety in children, says expert

M.J. Prabhu

Dr. Asha Dinesh — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: All of us experience anxiety in some form or the other. Anxiety levels vary at different stages of life, and childhood is no exception.

With today's mostly `part-time parents' constantly balancing their various roles, a child is an easy target for emotional baggage that one may carry.

"Much of this anxiety seems to be fuelled by the education system. With the emphasis on academics increasing drastically in schools and fierce competition, many children are succumbing to anxiety disorders," says Asha Dinesh, consultant psychologist from Chennai.

"Today, more than 60 per cent of school-going children in Chennai suffer from mild to severe anxiety disorders," she says.

Dr. Asha has been conducting free camps for the physically disabled and emotionally disturbed children for years. She also counsels college students.

According to her, a certain amount of anxiety is necessary for an individual to get motivated and excel. But, it becomes harmful when one begins to overreact to a situation, becoming either aggressive or terrified.

The current focus on academic performance puts tremendous pressure on children, more so in children with an unidentified learning disability or disorder, she said.

For an anxious youngster, a negative incident in school or college lowers his or her self-esteem leading to depression, she notes.

"Anxiety not only affects the mind but can also lead to problems such as constipation, skin ailments, headaches and insomnia."

It is sad to see young persons in class X to XII going through an "emotionally and physically challenging phase in their lives." They are under so much pressure, thanks to the cutthroat competition. Anxiety becomes deeply embedded in the psyche of children who are unable to stand the strain, she says.

Though parents are willing to help out their wards, they are unable to differentiate between psychiatric and psychological help. "It is important to understand that behaviour therapy is to be done by the counselling psychologist," she says.

She has trained specialists to conduct counselling sessions for children with behavioural and studies-related problems. They are taught important skills such as daily, weekly, and monthly goal setting.

Memory skills and relaxation techniques are used to train children to control their thought process. "Attending regular yoga and counselling classes every week in schools, specially during pre-teen, could tremendously improve a child's mental health," she says.

Dr. Asha Dinesh can be reached through phone at 26284946 or through email at drashadinesh@yahoo.com.